Yup, it is that time of the year. Oklahoma City Thunder basketball is back.
The Thunder face the Portland Trail Blazers Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. on ESPN. Unfortunately, we won’t not see the full Thunder team on opening night. Here are some news and notes to know as you get ready for the 2014-15 season.
Steven Adams will be your starting center
It's official: Steven Adams has won the Thunder's starting center job.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 28, 2014
Nearly everyone was calling for it. I have defended Kendrick Perkins more than most, but the guy simply doesn’t give you much anymore. And that is why the second-year center, Adams, will be the Thunder’s starting center to start the season and presumably for the entire year.
More from Hoops Habit
- The 5 most dominant NBA players who never won a championship
- 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
- Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
- Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
- Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
I love the move. I said earlier in the offseason Adams was the
future in the paint for the Thunder
and after a strong preseason, head coach
Scott Brooksdecided the time was now.
Adams averaged 12.8 points per game and 6.9 rebounds on 68.4 percent shooting from the floor in the preseason.
Adams is ready to be the starting center and I am glad Brooks pulled the trigger on it. The biggest concern with Adams is his tendency to find himself in foul trouble. He averaged 6.1 fouls per 36 minutes last year. A lot of that was him being late on rotations and adjusting to the speed of the pro game.
We should see that improve in year two. He needs to stay out of foul trouble if he wants to be a consistent contributor for this team.
Kendrick Perkins is not exactly thrilled about this
More Perk on his role and how he wants to finish, not start: pic.twitter.com/RQ04yZrCwN
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) October 27, 2014
You can’t blame Perkins. Everyone wants to play, especially a guy who has started every single game he has played (222) for the Thunder. That quote just screams he knows his time is nearly up. However, the thing with Perkins is you know if Adams is struggling or in foul trouble, he will be ready to play.
He’s a true professional. Good thing because…
The bench is going to be thin for at least the first two games
Officially out for at least the first two games: Kevin Durant, Reggie Jackson, Mitch McGary, Jeremy Lamb, Anthony Morrow, Grant Jerrett
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) October 28, 2014
Yeah, that’s not ideal to start the season. According to Slater, the starting lineup for the Thunder tonight will be Russell Westbrook, Andre Roberson, Perry Jones III, Serge Ibaka and Adams.
The Thunder will only have nine active players for at least Wednesday and Thursday (against the Los Angeles Clippers). Coming off the bench will be Perkins, Nick Collison, Sebastian Telfair and Lance Thomas.
Out of the nine available players, the Thunder only have two that are legit offensive weapons. Westbrook is going to score and get shots no matter who is on the floor with him.
He might take 30 shots Wednesday night and I have never been more ready. Seat belt is already fastened. Ibaka will be able to get shots playing off Westbrook, especially in the pick n’ pop game.
It would not shock me if the Thunder go 0-2 with all these guys out. They are playing two of the top teams in the Western Conference so I kind of expect it to happen. However, everyone has to understand the circumstances and not freak out. They play 82 games for a reason. I am real excited for the first one–no matter who is on the floor.